US6675232B1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US6675232B1
Application number: US09/323,713
Authority: US
Inventors: Katsunori Sato; Koichi Izumi; Kenji Ouchida
Original assignee: Alpine Electronics Inc
Current assignee: Alpine Electronics Inc
Priority date: 1998-06-12
Filing date: 1999-06-01
Publication date: 2004-01-06
Anticipated expiration: 2019-06-01
Also published as: JP2000003584A

Abstract

When manufacturing several types of player having different functions, as many components as possible are used in common to all the types of player so that the production cost is reduced. A main control circuit, including a flash ROM, and other common circuits are mounted on a main board. No programs are written in the flash ROM in the state where the player to be produced is not yet specified. In the manufacturing process for one of a cassette tape player, a CD player and an MD player, a corresponding one is selected from among drive mechanisms for those various players, a corresponding one is selected from among front panels, and a program for operating the selected drive mechanism and front panel in an adapted manner is written into the flash ROM. The selected drive mechanism, the selected front panel and the main board are attached to a main chassis. A connector for the drive mechanism and a connector for the front panel, the connectors being both provided on the main board, are connected to respective connection terminals of the drive mechanism and the front panel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vehicle-loaded audio device such as a cassette tape player, a CD player or an MD player, and more particularly to a vehicle-loaded audio device suitable for promoting common use of components and achieving a reduction of costs.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a vehicle-loaded audio device comprises a drive mechanism for carrying out recording/playback on and from a medium (e.g., a cassette tape, CD or MD), a front panel provided with an opening for insertion of the medium and a plurality of control keys, a chassis for supporting the drive mechanism and the front panel, a main board attached to the chassis, and so on. Various circuit components, including a microcontroller, are mounted on the main board.

With such a variety of vehicle-loaded audio devices, front panels are different depending on each type of drive mechanism. For example, a front panel having a cassette insertion opening is employed for a cassette tape player, and a front panel having a disk insertion opening is employed for a CD player. Microcontrollers mounted on the main boards are also different depending on each type of drive mechanism. The microcontroller controls the operation of the drive mechanism in accordance with an input signal from any of control keys. disposed on the front panel. For those reasons, in the manufacturing process of several kinds of vehicle-loaded audio devices having different drive mechanisms, it has been customary to prepare respective sets of a front panel, a chassis and a main board which are specific to each type of drive mechanism, and to assemble the sets of components into the vehicle-loaded audio devices.

As an improvement on the above method, U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,057 discloses a manufacturing method for vehicle-loaded audio devices. According to the disclosed method, a sub-board mounting thereon a sub-microcontroller for controlling the operation of a drive mechanism for each of various players is attached to the corresponding drive mechanism, a sub-board mounting thereon a sub-microcontroller for controlling a display, etc. is attached to a front panel for each of the various players, and a main microcontroller for executing various functions common to the various players is mounted on a main board. When manufacturing a particular one of the various players, e.g., a cassette tape player, the drive mechanism for a cassette tape, the front panel for a cassette tape, and the main board are mechanically attached to a main chassis. The sub-board on the drive mechanism side and the sub-board on the front panel side are electrically connected to the main board, following which all the microcontrollers are interconnected by buses.

Such a manufacturing method for vehicle-loaded audio devices has advantages. By preparing the dedicated drive mechanism and the dedicated front panel for each type of player, and attaching the respective sub-boards mounting thereon the dedicated sub-microcontroller to the corresponding drive mechanism and front panel, the other components, i.e., the main board and the main chassis, are common to all the types of player. As compared with the case of preparing the front panel, the main chassis and the main board are dedicated for each drive mechanism, therefore, the total cost including design and development cost and a mold cost can be reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, three components, i.e., one particular drive mechanism, a front panel corresponding to that drive mechanism and a main board, are attached to a main chassis, and at least the drive mechanism is connected to the main board with a connector. A writing unit into which a program for operating the drive mechanism and the other components in an adapted manner can be written, and a circuit unit common to various players are mounted on the main board. With such a construction, when manufacturing a particular product from among those various players, the main board and the main chassis can be used in common to all the types of product. Further, by writing a program into a flash ROM, which constitutes the writing unit, depending on the type of product when it is on a production line, a common microcontroller on the main board can execute the operation of the drive mechanism corresponding to the front panel. It is therefore possible to reduce the total cost including design and development cost and a mold cost to a large extent.

A vehicle-loaded audio device of the present invention comprises one selected from among drive mechanisms for various players, a front panel having an insertion opening for a medium corresponding to the selected one of the drive mechanisms, a main chassis for supporting the front panel and the drive mechanism, and a main board attached to the main chassis, the main board including a connector for connecting the main board and the drive mechanism, a writing unit into which a program for operating the drive mechanism and the other components in an adapted manner can be written, and a circuit unit common to the various players.

The front panel is required to have at least the insertion opening for the medium corresponding to the drive mechanism. In the case of the front panel being provided with at least one control key for operating the drive mechanism, when the front panel is connected to the main board with a connector, a common microcontroller on the main board can execute the operation of the drive mechanism in accordance with input manipulation of the control key.

The drive mechanism may be directly attached to the main chassis. By attaching the drive mechanism to the main chassis through an intermediate bracket, however, flexibility in attachment of each drive mechanism to the main chassis is improved.

Furthermore, a connection terminal of the drive mechanism may be directly connected to the connector on the main board. By connecting the drive mechanism to the main board with the connector through a flexible cable such as a flat cable or a wire, however, flexibility in connection of each drive mechanism to the main board is improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a manufacturing process of a vehicle-loaded audio device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for illustrating a main board provided in the vehicle-loaded audio device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a manufacturing process for a vehicle-loaded audio device according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main board provided in the vehicle-loaded audio device.

As shown in FIG. 1, when manufacturing a vehicle-loaded audio device according to the embodiment,

various drive mechanisms

1,2,3 for a cassette tape player, a CD player and an MD player, various

front panels

4,5,6 for the cassette tape player, the CD player and the MD player, a commonmain chassis7, and a commonmain board8 attached to the main chassis are prepared. One selected from among the

drive mechanisms

1,2,3 and one selected from among the

front panels

4,5,6 are attached to themain chassis7 and connected to themain board8 with connectors, whereby the vehicle-loaded audio device is completed.

Though not shown, thedrive mechanism1 incorporates a playback magnetic head for acassette tape9, a tape reel driving mechanism, etc.; thedrive mechanism2 incorporates a playback pickup for aCD10, a turntable driving mechanism, etc.; and thedrive mechanism3 incorporates a recording/playback pickup for anMD11, a turntable driving mechanism, etc. Thefront panel4 corresponds to thedrive mechanism1. A cassette insertion opening4ais formed in thefront panel4, while a plurality ofcontrol keys4bandcontrol knobs4c, and an LCD (liquid crystal display)4dare disposed on thefront panel4. Thefront panel5 corresponds to thedrive mechanism2. A CD insertion opening5ais formed in thefront panel5, while a plurality ofcontrol keys5bandcontrol knobs5c, and anLCD5dare disposed on thefront panel5. Thefront panel6 corresponds to thedrive mechanism3. An MD insertion opening6ais formed in thefront panel6, while a plurality ofcontrol keys6bandcontrol knobs6c, and anLCD6dare disposed on thefront panel6.

An insertion opening7ais formed in a front wall of themain chassis7, and is set to a size sufficient to encompass any of the cassette insertion opening4a, the CD insertion opening5aand the MD insertion opening6a. As shown in FIG. 2, themain board8 is attached to themain chassis7 in a predetermined position by screwing or any other suitable means, and a pair ofmount portions7bare provided on themain chassis7. Aconnector12 for the drive mechanism, aconnector13 for the front panel, and amain connector14 for external output are provided on themain board8. A connection terminal of one of the

drive mechanisms

1,2,3 is connected to theconnector12 for the drive mechanism, and a connection terminal of one of the

front panels

4,5,6 is connected to theconnector13 for the front panel. Also, adimmer control circuit15, an LCDbacklight control circuit16, alight regulator circuit17, abus circuit18, an audiocommon circuit19, atuner circuit20, apower amplifier21, amain control circuit22, etc. are mounted, as common circuits to all the types of players, on themain board8. Themain control circuit22 includes aflash ROM23. Further, a Dolbycircuit24 is mounted, as a dedicated circuit to a cassette tape player, on themain circuit8. The Dolbycircuit24 is omitted when one of the

drive mechanisms

2,3 not adapted for a cassette tape player is selected.

Themain connector14 includes a line connected to a vehicle side battery and an ACC cable, a line connecting a dimmer circuit (a circuit operating in response to on/off of headlights) and thedimmer control circuit15, a line connected to thebus circuit18 for communication with other devices, and lines for producing outputs to front and rear speakers. An output signal of thedimmer control circuit15 is supplied through thelight regulator circuit17 to the LCDbacklight control circuit16 and the side of selected one of the

front panels

4,5,6. Accordingly, when the headlights are turned on, lights associated with doors, the

control keys

4b,5bor6bdisposed on the

front panel

4,5 or6, etc. are turned on, and the luminous intensity of the backlight of the

front panel

4,5 or6 is reduced. In addition, the LCDbacklight control circuit16 is controlled by themain control circuit22, and the backlight of the

LCD

4d,5dor6dis turned on/off in accordance with a command from themain control circuit22.

Though not shown, each of the

front panels

4,5,6 mounts thereon an LCD driver, a key matrix circuit, rotary encoders, and so on. When an output signal from a predetermined one of the

control keys

4b,5bor6bis supplied to themain control circuit22, themain control circuit22 controls the LCD driver to change the contents displayed on the

LCD

4d,5dor6d. Also, when the rotary encoder is operated with one of the

control knobs

4c,5cor6c, an output signal of the rotary encoder is supplied to themain control circuit22, whereupon themain control circuit22 controls the audiocommon circuit19 to adjust, e.g., the magnitude of a voice signal inputted from thetuner circuit20. Thus, sound is outputted at an adjusted level from the speakers through thepower amplifier21. A program corresponding to a selected one of the

drive mechanisms

1,2,3 is written in theflash ROM23. In accordance with the stored program, themain control circuit22 causes the

drive mechanism

1,2 or3 to execute the operation corresponding to a key input from any of the

control keys

4b,5bor6bon the side of the

front panel

4,5 or6.

Next, the process of manufacturing various types of player will be described in detail. In this embodiment, as described above, themain chassis7 and themain board8 are used as common components to all the types of player. No programs are written in theflash ROM23 mounted on themain board8 in the state where the player to be produced is not yet specified. In the manufacturing process for a cassette tape player, thedrive mechanism1 is selected from among the

drive mechanisms

1,2,3, thefront panel4 is selected from among the

front panels

4,5,6, and a program for operating thedrive mechanism1 and thefront panel4 in an adapted manner is written into theflash ROM23. Then, thefront panel4 and themain board8 are attached to themain chassis7, and thedrive mechanism1 is attached to both themount portions7bof themain chassis7. The connection terminal of thedrive mechanism1 and the connection terminal of thefront panel4 are connected respectively to the drive mechanism-matedconnector12 and the front panel-matedconnector13 both provided on themain board8. In this case, the audiocommon circuit19 is connected through theDolby circuit24 on themain board8.

As an alternative, in the manufacturing process for a CD player, thedrive mechanism2 is selected from among the

drive mechanisms

1,2,3, thefront panel5 is selected from among the

front panels

4,5,6, and a program for operating thedrive mechanism2 and thefront panel5 in an adapted manner is written into theflash ROM23. Then, thefront panel5 and themain board8 are attached to themain chassis7, and thedrive mechanism2 is attached to both themount portions7bof themain chassis7. The connection terminal of thedrive mechanism2 and the connection terminal of thefront panel5 are connected respectively to the drive mechanism-matedconnector12 and the front panel-matedconnector13 both provided on themain board8. In this case, theDolby circuit23 is omitted from themain board8.

Further, in the manufacturing process for an MD player, thedrive mechanism3 is selected from among the

drive mechanisms

1,2,3, thefront panel6 is selected from among the

front panels

4,5,6, and a program for operating thedrive mechanism3 and thefront panel6 in an adapted manner is written into theflash ROM23. Then, thefront panel6 and themain board8 are attached to themain chassis7, and thedrive mechanism3 is attached to both themount portions7bof themain chassis7. The connection terminal of thedrive mechanism3 and the connection terminal of thefront panel6 are connected respectively to the drive mechanism-matedconnector12 and the front panel-matedconnector13 both provided on themain board8. Also in this case, theDolby circuit23 is omitted from themain board8.

With the embodiment described above, when a particular one of various players is manufactured, themain board8 and themain chassis7 can be used in common to all the types of product. Further, by writing a program into theflash ROM23 depending on the type of product when it is on a production line, the common microcontroller on the main board can execute the operation of each drive mechanism in accordance with input manipulation of the control keys. The total cost including design and development cost and a mold cost can be therefore reduced to a large extent.

In the foregoing embodiment, the

drive mechanisms

1,2,3 are each directly attached to bothmount portions7bof themain chassis7. However, if the mount positions of the

drive mechanisms

1,2,3 differ from one another, an intermediate bracket may be interposed between each of the

drive mechanisms

1,2,3 and themount portions7bof themain chassis7. Thus the difference in the mount positions of the

drive mechanisms

1,2,3 can be accommodated just by replacing the intermediate bracket.

Also, in the foregoing embodiment, the connection terminals of the

drive mechanisms

1,2,3 are each directly connected to theconnector12 for the drive mechanism, theconnector12 being provided on themain board8. However, if the positions of the connection terminals of the

drive mechanisms

1,2,3 differ from one another, the connection terminals of the

drive mechanisms

1,2,3 may be each connected to theconnector12 for drive mechanism through a flexible cable such as a flat cable or a wire. Thus the use of a flexible cable can accommodate the difference in the layout positions of the connection terminals of the

drive mechanisms

1,2,3 from theconnector12 for the drive mechanism.

While the foregoing embodiment has been described in connection with the case of selecting one from among three different types of players, i.e., a cassette tape player, a CD player and an MD player, similar advantages can be also obtained in the case of selecting one from among two or not less than four different types of players. The present invention is likewise applicable to a DVD player as well, for example, in addition to the above-mentioned players.

Further, while the foregoing embodiment has been described in connection with the front panel having both the medium insertion opening and the control keys, the present invention is also applicable to a front panel having no control keys. In this case, a drive mechanism corresponding to such a front panel can be made to execute various operations with the control keys disposed on the front panel for another type of player or through remote control. For example, when an MD player and a CD-ROM player for a navigation system are stacked in two stages one above the other, it is possible to employ a front panel having only a CD-ROM insertion opening for the CD-ROM player, and to cause a drive mechanism for the CD-ROM player to execute various operations in accordance with input manipulation of the control keys disposed on the front panel for the MD player.

The vehicle-loaded audio device of the present invention is implemented in the form described above and can provide the following advantages.

Three components, i.e., one particular drive mechanism, a front panel corresponding to that drive mechanism and a main board, are attached to a main chassis, and at least the drive mechanism is connected to the main board with a connector. A flash ROM into which a program for operating the drive mechanism and the other components in an adapted manner can be written, and a circuit unit common to various players are mounted on the main board. When manufacturing a particular product from among those various players, the main board and the main chassis can be used in common to all the types of product. Further, by writing a program into the flash ROM depending on the type of product when it is on a production line, the common microcontroller on the main board can execute the operation of the drive mechanism corresponding to the front panel. It is therefore possible to reduce the total cost including design and development cost and a mold cost to a large extent.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle-loaded audio device comprising one selected from among drive mechanisms for various players, a front panel having an insertion opening for a medium corresponding to said selected one of the drive mechanisms, a main chassis for supporting said front panel and said drive mechanism, and a main board attached to said main chassis,

said main board including a connector for connecting said main board and said drive mechanism, a writing unit into which a program for operating said selected drive mechanism is written, and a circuit unit common to said various players.

2. A vehicle-loaded audio device according toclaim 1, wherein at least one control key for operating said drive mechanism is disposed on said front panel, and said front panel is connected to said main board with a front panel-mated connector provided on said main board.

3. A vehicle-loaded audio device according toclaim 1, wherein said drive mechanism is attached to said main chassis through an intermediate bracket.

4. A vehicle-loaded audio device according toclaim 1, wherein at least two of said drive mechanisms for the various players are attached to said main chassis at different mount positions, and when the mount position of said selected drive mechanism differs from a preset mount position, said selected drive mechanism is attached to said main chassis through an intermediate bracket.

5. A vehicle-loaded audio device according toclaim 1, wherein said drive mechanism is connected to said main board with a connector through a flexible cable.

6. A vehicle-loaded audio device according toclaim 1, wherein at least two of said drive mechanisms for the various players are connected to said main board at different positions, and when the connecting position of said selected drive mechanism differs from a preset connector position on said main board, said selected drive mechanism is connected to said main board through a flexible cable.

7. A vehicle-loaded audio device according toclaim 1, wherein said writing unit is formed of a flash ROM allowing the program to be written therein at least once.

8. A vehicle-loaded audio device comprising one selected from among drive mechanisms for various players, a front panel having an insertion opening for a medium corresponding to said selected one of the drive mechanisms, a main chassis for supporting said front panel and said drive mechanism, and a main board attached to said main chassis,

said main board including a drive mechanism-mated connector for connecting said main board and said drive mechanism, a front panel-mated connect or for connecting said main board and said front panel, a writing unit into which a program for operating said selected drive mechanism is written, and a circuit unit common to said various players.

9. A vehicle-loaded audio device according toclaim 8, wherein at least one control key for operating said drive mechanism is disposed on said front panel.

10. A vehicle-loaded audio device according toclaim 8, wherein said drive mechanism is attached to said main chassis through an intermediate bracket.

11. A vehicle-loaded audio device according toclaim 8, wherein at least two of said drive mechanisms for the various players are attached to said main chassis at different mount positions, and when the mount position of said selected drive mechanism differs from a preset mount position, said selected drive mechanism is attached to said main chassis through an intermediate bracket.

12. A vehicle-loaded audio device according toclaim 8, wherein said drive mechanism is connected to said main board with a connector through a flexible cable.

13. A vehicle-loaded audio device according toclaim 8, wherein at least two of said drive mechanisms for the various players are connected to said main board at different positions, and when the connecting position of said selected drive mechanism differs from a preset connector position on said main board, said selected drive mechanism is connected to said main board through a flexible cable.

14. A vehicle-loaded audio device according toclaim 8, wherein said writing unit is formed of a flash ROM allowing the program to be written therein at least once.

15. A vehicle-loaded audio device comprising one selected from among drive mechanisms for various players, a front panel having an insertion opening for a medium corresponding to said selected one of the drive mechanisms, a main chassis for supporting said front panel and said drive mechanism, and a main board attached to said main chassis,

said main board including a connector for connecting said main board and said drive mechanism, a writing unit, and a circuit unit common to said various players,

said writing unit storing a predetermined program for operating said selected drive mechanism that is written therein after said drive mechanism has been selected.

16. A vehicle-loaded audio device according toclaim 15, wherein said writing unit is formed of a flash ROM allowing the program to be written therein at least once.

17. A method for manufacturing a desired one of a plurality of audio devices having certain common components, comprising:

providing a main chassis that is common to said plurality of audio devices;

providing a main board that is common to said plurality of audio devices, said main board being attachable to said main chassis; and

selecting a drive mechanism for the desired audio device from among the drive mechanisms for said plurality of audio devices, said selected drive mechanism being attachable to said main chassis and electrically connectable to said main board;

wherein said main board includes a writing unit into which a program for operating said selected drive mechanism is written.

18. A method according toclaim 17 further comprising:

selecting a front panel for the desired audio device from among the front panels for said plurality of audio devices, said selected front panel having an insertion opening for a medium corresponding to said selected drive mechanism and being electrically connectable to said main board.

19. A method according toclaim 17 wherein said selected drive mechanism is attachable to said main chassis through an intermediate bracket.

20. A method according toclaim 17 wherein said selected drive mechanism is connectable to said main board through a flexible cable.

21. A method according toclaim 17 wherein said writing unit is a flash ROM.